Initially, the curse appeared to be a serious but mundane illness - but as it developed, her body, incapable of withstanding the aura it was emanating, would begin to slowly decay in wisps of dreamstuff.

Not even necessarily because she wants children, but because she resents that the right to decide that for herself was taken from her. (And also on the assumption that breaking the Garden Society's curse can be used against them later.)

Never having been fully inducted into the Garden Society, much of Penny's witchcraft is self taught, with a strong speciality for weaving sometimes insidious enchantments into handmade items.

The Brambilla family never got the chance to see their plans through, however, as the entire household would be poisoned, with Penny barely surviving and awakening to the Phantom Arm Persephone shortly aftwerwards. The killer was never caught, but Penny fled Emessero to avoid suspicion.

Unable to produce a worthy candidate of their own, the Brambilla family of Emessero arranged for their ward Penelope to wed their nephew and forced her to tutor him in the occult arts, out of a desperate and greedy attempt to claim the Garden Society's secrets which they had been denied.